In My Words: By Way of Introduction -- Social Media Expert Edie Melson (and a giveaway)

My friend, Edie Melson -- a social marketing wunderkind

Question: How would you feel if you came home from a trip overseas to find out that while you've been gone for the last few weeks, someone published your book?
Not that you wrote the book. Or pitched the book. Or sweated it out while your proposal went to a pub committee.
My friend Edie Melson, an accomplished freelance writer and editor, could tell you exactly how that you've-got-to-be-kidding-me experience feels like--she lived it!
Her bestselling ebook, Social Media Marketing for Writers, was the idea of her publisher, Eddie Jones, with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. They are also publishing Edie's devotional book, Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home, later this year.
As Edie tells it, her publisher knew she taught Social Media Marketing to writers at conferences all over the country. He asked her to send him all of her notes so he could evaluate the possibility of doing a book. "The rest, as they say, is history," Edie said.

When I first met Edie, we had an instant heart-to-heart connection. She is one of those rare people that radiates warmth and encouragement. So, okay, I'm biased. But I learned quickly that behind Edie's friendliness was a social marketing savvy woman. Edie knows what she's talking about.
Her introduction to social media wasn't exactly easy.
"It was a sink or swim situation," Edie recalls. "I got a job as managing editor at a Christian magazine for college-age guys. Everyone I worked with was young enough to be my son--and social media is the only way to reach that audience. I had to become an expert or quit my job."
With her success has come a huge sense of accomplishment.
"It's become one of my passions to show others that social networking is nothing to be afraid of. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can!"
Edie calls social media and writers "a match made in heaven."
"Writing is all about building relationships--with readers, editors, agents, other writers--and what better vehicle than social media? We writers communicate best through the written word," she says. "And social media gives us an unprecedented opportunity to connect with our readers."

Social Marketing for Writers is available on Kindle  and Nook.

Giveaway for commenters on today's post: To give you a sample of the kind of expertise you'll find in Edie's ebook, leave a comment today (including your email address) and I will send you Edie's two-page handout "Learn to Manage TweetDeck to Keep Social Networking in Check." Edie sent it to me when I sent her a "Help me!" email a few months back and said I can share it with my blog followers today. (Thanks, Edie!)